The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



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Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• At the Threshold! 2023 Diocesan Convention
• "Proclaim the Good News" School for Ministry Preaching Workshop
• Owaŝte Wakaŋ: Sacred Healing, Antiracism and Racial Reconciliation
• Safe Church Announcement

Read on for other announcements and the calendar!

Did you miss a copy of the Prairie? The past four editions of the bi-monthly Prairie are now online! Click the button below to be taken to the webpage!

Elections

Positions that are open for election:

• 1 Lay Standing Committee term (3 years)
• 1 Clergy Standing Committee term (3 years)
• 1 Clergy Standing Committee term (2 years)
• 2 East Region Council terms
• 2 West Region Council terms
• Secretary of Convention
• Treasurer of the Diocese
• 4 Lay General Convention Deputy Alternates
• 4 Clergy General Convention Deputy Alternates

Position descriptions and nomination forms are available on the convention web page, or by emailing the Diocesan Office. Please prayerfully consider one of the above open positions and fill out the nomination form.

Nomination forms are available by clicking the button below, on the Diocesan Convention webpage, or by contacting the Diocesan Office.

Hotel Information

The Convention will take place at the Baymont Inn in Mandan, ND.

           2611 Old Red Trail

           Mandan, ND 58554

To make a reservation, please call 701-663-7401. Mention the “Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota Convention” to be reserved in our room block.

The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

School for Ministry

Announces

“Proclaim the Good News”

A workshop for all who may be called to preach (lay and ordained).

with

The Very Rev. Mark Strobel

Dean of Gethsemane Cathedral, Fargo

Saturday October 14, 2023

10:00am – 3:00pm

Grace Church, Jamestown

The School for Ministry is shifting its focus to providing training for local ministry. This workshop is for lay people, deacons, and priests who are preaching or considering a call as preachers in their community.

Dean Strobel has written about preaching and for preachers for the past 25 years.

There is no charge for this workshop.

To register send an email to

Jess at the Diocesan office

or to Steve Godfrey

Please let them know if you have any food restrictions.

Owaŝte Wakaŋ: 

Sacred Healing, Antiracism and Racial Reconciliation

Sept. 29-30, 2023 (Friday supper through mid-afternoon Saturday)

Prairie Knights Lodge & Casino, Standing Rock

Led by the Venerable Paul Sneve, Archdeacon, Diocese of South Dakota

The Reconciliation Committee of the Diocese of North Dakota invites all members of the Dioceses of North Dakota and South Dakota to gather for this important formation, which is required by The Episcopal Church for lay and ordained leaders. This program has been designed to address General Convention’s requirements and certification of attendance will be provided to all who complete the seminar.

Participants are invited to contribute $50, as able, to help cover the costs of the presentation, lodging, and food. Those able to contribute more are encouraged to do so. One night’s lodging and three meals are included. (Most of the cost of this program is covered by the diocesan budget.)

Register by filling out the below form or by contacting the Diocesan Office.

Safe Church - Getting Started

Clergy in charge, wardens and vestries:

Step 1: Read carefully the two revised policies distributed electronically from the Diocese with cover letter from Bishop Ely on July 31, 2023. One policy is related to ministries with children/youth and the other is related to ministries with vulnerable adults; the policies are available on the diocesan web page (see link below).

Step 2: Identify those in each congregation who are required to have training and background checks (use Appendix A1 and A2 in the policies)

Step 3:  Send names and email addresses of those identified in Step 2 to the diocesan office soon. Alert those whose names are identified that they will receive email instructions re: background checks (check spam/junk folders). NOTE: If your congregation has a church/Sunday school starting soon and/or provides a nursery for young ones, the teachers, assistants, caregivers should be a priority for background checks and training so send those names/emails along as soon as possible.

Check out the safe church information on the diocesan web page:

The Rev. Kim Fox (publishing under Kimberly L. Becker) has four poems in the latest issue of The Anglican Theological Review.

Mary Simonson, senior warden of All Saints in Valley City, died on August 3. Funeral rites occurred at All Saints on August 10, led by the Rev. Bart Davis. According to her obituary, Mary was the Executive Director of the Open Door Center in Valley City for 41 years, leading a team providing high-quality care for those who were developmentally disabled or impacted by a traumatic brain injury. She was a member of the North Dakota Special Olympics Hall of Fame, president of the VCSU Foundation, past president and member of Valley City Rotary, and an active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. 

Applications open for General Convention Official Youth Presence 2024

Episcopal teens ages 16 to 19 are invited to apply to become part of the 81st General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings before and during the summer 2024 convention. The deadline to apply is Nov. 17.